Mop assembly with steam generation device

ABSTRACT

A mop assembly includes a handle having a control member connected to a lower end thereof and the control member is located within a connection unit which is connected to the handle. A locking unit is connected to outside of the connection unit and is hooked to a main body. The main body includes a case in which a tank, a steam generation device and a pivotal member are located therein. An operation bar is pivotably connected to the case. The pivotal member is able to activate the steam generation device by pushing the handle downward. The main body can be disengaged from the locking unit and used individually. The steam generation device can be activated by operation of an operation bar on the main body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention intends to provide a mop assembly with a steamgeneration device received therein and the steam generation device canbe removed from the main case of the mop assembly and used individually.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

A conventional mop assembly with steam is shown in FIG. 7 and generallyincludes a handle 80, a main body 82 connected to the handle 80, a mopunit 81 connected to the lower end of the main body 82, a pump 84, awater tank 83 and a steam generation device 85. The pump 84, the watertank 83 and the steam generation device 85 are received in the main body82 and connected with each other by hoses. When the user pushes thehandle 80 downward to activate the pump 84, the steam is generated bythe steam generation device 85 and ejected to the floor to melt thestain or dirty spots, and the mop unit 81 can easily mop the floor toclean the floor. The stream is generated at high temperature which killsgerms as well.

Nevertheless, the steam generation device is received in the main bodyof the conventional mop assembly and cannot be used in different waysand this arrangement of the steam generation device restricts the use ofthe steam generation device and the conventional mop assembly.

The present invention intends to provide a mop assembly with a steamgeneration device received therein and the steam generation device canbe removed from the main case of the mop assembly and used individually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mop assembly which comprises a handlehas a control member connected to a lower end thereof and the controlmember includes a protrusion. The lower end of the handle and thecontrol member are axially connected to a connection unit. A lockingunit is connected to outside of the connection unit and axially movablerelative to the connection unit. The locking unit has a hook on a lowerend thereof so as to hook a main body. The main body includes a case inwhich a tank, a steam generation device and a pivotal member arelocated. An operation bar is pivotably connected to the case. Thepivotal member has a first end which contacts the protrusion of thecontrol member, and a second end of the pivotal member contacts a firstvalve which is operatively connected to the tank and the steamgeneration device. The pivotal member is pivoted by pushing the handleto activate the steam generation device when the main body is connectedto the connection unit.

The operation bar has a first end located in the case and contacts asecond valve and a second end of the operation bar is exposed from thecase. The second valve is operatively connected to the tank and thesteam generation device which is activated by operation on the secondend of the operation bar when the main body is individually used.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a mop assemblywherein the steam generation device is activated by pushing the handleso that steam ejects from the mop case to dissolve rough dirty stain onthe floor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steam generationdevice which can be disengaged from the mop assembly and usedindividually. The steam generation device is activated by pushing anoperation bar on the main body.

The present invention will become more obvious from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswhich show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment inaccordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the mop assembly of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the handle, the control member, theconnection unit and the mop case of the mop assembly of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side view to show the mop assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows that the locking unit connects the connection unit and themain body of the mop assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view to show the tank, the steam generation deviceand the valves in the case of the main body of the mop assembly of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the main body which is disengaged from theconnection unit, and

FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional view to show a conventional mop withsteam generation device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the mop assembly of the present inventioncomprises a retractable handle 10 has a through hole 11 defined througha lower end thereof and a control member 12 includes a connectionportion 121 which is engaged with the through hole 11 so that thecontrol member 12 is connected to the lower end of the handle 10. Thecontrol member 12 includes a protrusion 123 extending radially therefromand an elongate hole 122 is defined through a lower end of the controlmember 12. The lower end of the handle 10 and the control member 12 areaxially connected to a connection unit 20. A spring 13 is biased at anunderside of the control member 12 so as to provide the control member12 to bounce upward.

The connection unit 20 is composed of two halves and includes an innerwall 220 and an outer wall 223. An axial passage 21 is defined in theconnection unit 20 and enclosed by the inner wall 220. The handle 10 andthe control member 12 are received in the axial passage 21. An insertionhole 24 is defined in the inner wall 220 and a snapping hole 22 isdefined in the outer wall 223. A slit 221 is defined and communicateswith the snapping hole 22 and located between the inner and outer walls220, 223. A first side hole 222 is located below the slit 221 anddefined through the inner and outer walls 220, 223. A rod 23 extendsfrom an inside of the axial passage 21 and through the elongate hole122. A bolt extends through the rod 23 and is connected to theconnection unit 20. A second side hole 25 is located above the firstside hole 222 and defined through the outer wall 223. The protrusion 123extends out from the first side hole 222. The handle 10 and theprotrusion 123 are movable along the first side hole 222.

A locking unit 30 is connected to outside of the connection unit 20 andaxially movable relative to the connection unit 20. The locking unit 30includes a base 31, an insertion 33, a block 34 and a spring 311. A hook32 is located at an underside of the base 31 and the block 34 extendsfrom the base 31 so as to define a space 35 between the base 31 and theblock 34. The space 35 includes an opening and located between theinsertion 33 and a distal end of the block 34. The block 34 is locatedoutside of the connection unit 20 which is partially located with in thespace 35. The hook 32 is hooked with a main body 40. The spring 311 isbiased between the slit 221 and the insertion 33. The locking unit 30 ismovable relative to the connection unit 20, the base 31 and the hook 32extend through the second side hole 25.

The main body 40 including a case 41 in which a tank 43, a steamgeneration device 44 and a pivotal member 50 are located. An operationbar 60 is pivotably connected to the case 41. The case 41 has a groove45 with which the hook 32 of the locking unit 30 is engaged. A portionof the case 41 is inserted into the insertion hole 24 of the connectionunit 20.

The pivotal member 50 has a first end 51 which contacts the protrusion123 of the control member 12 and a second end 52 of the pivotal member50 contacts a first valve 53 which is operatively connected to the tank43 and the steam generation device 44. The operation bar 60 is anelongate bar and has a second end 62 located in the handle 42 andcontacting a second valve 63 and a first end 61 of the operation bar 60is exposed from the handle 42. The second valve 63 is operativelyconnected to the tank 43 and the steam generation device 44 which isactivated by operation on the second end 62 of the operation bar 60.

The first and second valves 53, 63 both are three-way valves and eachhave a contact end 531/631, a first end 532/632 and a second end533/633. The first and second valves 53, 63 are fixed to the case 41 andsecond end 52 of the pivotal member 50 contacts the contact end 531 ofthe first valve 53 and the second end 62 of the operation bar 60contacts the contact end 631 of the second valve 63. A first pipe 47 hasa first end 471 thereof connected to the outlet of the tank 43 and asecond end 472 of the first pipe 47 is connected to the first end 632 ofthe second valve 63. A third end 473 of the first pipe 47 is connectedto the first end 532 of the first valve 53.

A second pipe 48 has a first end 481 thereof connected to the second end633 of the second valve 63 and a second end 482 of the second pipe 48 isconnected to the second end 533 of the first valve 53. A third end 483of the second pipe 48 is connected to the inlet of the steam generationdevice 44. An adapter 71 is connected between a hose 72 of a mop case 70and the steam generation device 44. The hose 72 is connected to a nozzle73 which is located on the mop case 70.

When the main body 40 is connected to the connection unit 20 by thelocking unit 30, the user can push the handle 10 downward such that themop case 70 is moved on the floor and the protrusion 123 of the controlmember 12 pivots the pivotal member 50 which pushes the contact end 531to activate the first valve 53 and the water in the tank 43 is suckedout and enters into the steam generation device 44 via the second valve63 and the first pipe 47. The water is heated and transferred into steamwhich ejects out from the nozzle 73 via the hose 72. The hightemperature of the steam dissolves the rough dirty stain on the floorand the mop case 70 can easily remove the stain. The high temperature ofthe steam can kill the germs as well.

When the main body 40 is individually used, the user simply pushes theblock 34 of the locking unit 30 to disengage the hook 32 from the groove45, the main body 40 is separated from the connection unit 20 and can bepulled out from the insertion hole 24. As shown in FIG. 6, the userpushes the first end 61 of the operation bar 60, the second end 62 ofthe operation bar 60 activates the second valve 63 and the water in thetank 43 is sucked and enters into the steam generation device 44 via thesecond valve 63, the first pipe 47 and the second pipe 48. The steamejects from the outlet tube of the main body 40.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art thatfurther embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

1. A mop assembly comprising: a handle having a control member connectedto a lower end thereof and the control member including a protrusionextending radially therefrom, the lower end of the handle and thecontrol member axially connected to a connection unit; a locking unitconnected to outside of the connection unit and axially movable relativeto the connection unit, the locking unit having a hook on a lower endthereof; a main body including a case in which a tank, a steamgeneration device and a pivotal member are located, an operation barpivotably connected to the case, the case having a groove with which thehook of the locking unit is engaged, a portion of the case beinginserted into the insertion hole of the connection unit, and the pivotalmember having a first end which contacts the protrusion of the controlmember, a second end of the pivotal member contacting a first valvewhich is operatively connected to the tank and the steam generationdevice, the pivotal member being pivoted by pushing the handle toactivate the steam generation device, the operation bar having a firstend located in the case and contacting a second valve and a second endof the operation bar exposed from the case, the second valve operativelyconnected to the tank and the steam generation device which is activatedby operation on the second end of the operation bar.
 2. The assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the control member includes an elongate holedefined therein and a spring is biased at an underside of the controlmember, the connection unit is composed of two halves and includes aninner wall and an outer wall, an axial passage is defined in theconnection unit and enclosed by the inner wall, the handle and thecontrol member are received in the axial passage, an insertion hole isdefined in the inner wall and a snapping hole is defined in the outerwall, a slit is defined and communicates with the snapping hole andlocated between the inner and outer walls, a first side hole is locatedbelow the slit and defined through the inner and outer walls, a rodextends from an inside of the axial passage and through the elongatehole, a bolt extends through the rod and connected to the connectionunit, a second side hole is located above the first side hole anddefined through the outer wall, the protrusion extends out from thefirst side hole, the handle and the protrusion are movable along thefirst side hole.
 3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein thelocking unit includes a base, an insertion, a block and a spring, thehook is located at an underside of the base and the block extends fromthe base so as to define a space between the base and the block, thespace includes an opening and located between the insertion and a distalend of the block, the block is located outside of the connection unitwhich is partially located with in the space, the spring is biasedbetween the slit and the insertion, the locking unit is movable relativeto the connection unit and the base and the hook extend through thesecond side hole.
 4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein theoperation bar on the main body is an elongate bar.
 5. The assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second valves both arethree-way valves and each have a contact end, a first end and a secondend, the first and second valves are fixed to the case and second end ofthe pivotal member contacts the contact end of the first valve and thefirst end of the operation bar contacts the contact end of the secondvalve, a first pipe has a first end thereof connected to the tank and asecond end of the first pipe is connected to the first end of the secondvalve, a third end of the first pipe is connected to the first end ofthe first valve, a second pipe has a first end thereof connected to thesecond end of the second valve, a second end of the second pipe isconnected to the second end of the first valve, a third end of thesecond pipe is connected to the steam generation device, an adapter isconnected between a hose of a mop case and the steam generation device,the hose is connected to a nozzle which is located on the mop case.